Before joining Northumbria in September 2015, Kanchana worked as a Research Assistant at University of Huddersfield and University of Salford, UK. She obtained her PhD from University of Salford and her doctoral research focused on investigating the ways of mainstreaming women into disaster risk reduction in the built environment. She earned a research studentship to commence her higher studies in University of Salford, UK after graduating from University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka with a BSc Honours Degree in Quantity Surveying. Kanchana has published a number of research papers in refereed journals and international conferences. 

• Disaster risk reduction and management in the built environment
• Built Enviornment interventions in climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Digitalisation in the construction industry